Quoted message said:I've been looking for a new bike for the past couple of weeks to
commute and get around the city, with maybe some occasional
riding-for-pleasure on the side. I've been checking out bike shops and
trying out hybrids, and more or less decided on a Norco Yorkville
(right price, seemed OK, although not spectacular).
Today, I stopped into a bike shop on a whim, and tried out a
multi-speed cruiser (a Gulfstream, I think) for the very first time. It
was, I think, the most comfortable bike I have ever had the pleasure of
riding. I really enjoyed sitting upright, and the handlebars were
really comfortably placed as well. The bike itself felt really solid.
What are the relative merits of these bikes? The cruiser was really
comfortable...why don't we see them around? That particular one was
sitting all by itself on the clearance rack, yet I've never ridden a
bike quite like it.
Thoughts?
Riding alone, a cruiser often seems like a really nice unit; the
upright position (for someone who is not an enthusiast of any stripe
already) is less demanding on the rider, and the fat tires provide a
reasonably damped ride. However, if your aim is to participate in
group rides at some point, the hybrid is generally going to be the
better bet; its reduced rolling resistance through narrower,
higher-pressure tires, and its slightly more efficient (if slightly
less comfortable for some riders) seating position will, in my
experience, generally produce a higher cruising speed for the same
effort.
For just getting around, a cruiser is not a bad choice, but there are
reasons why the other types exist as well. Interestingly, what is
regarded as a "hybrid" in the US market today is more closely related
to what was (and is) commonly used in much of Europe.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
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